Indiana Fever head coach Christie Sides is clearly fed up with WNBA officiating through nine games of the 2024 season — specifically when it comes to the treatment of her superstar rookie, Caitlin Clark.
During Thursday night’s matchup against the Seattle Storm, Sides was issued a technical foul for blowing up on the officials after what she thought was an obvious foul committed on Clark.
When asked about this incident after the game, Sides gave an impassioned response in defense of Clark and the rest of her Fever players.
“The whole 40 minutes [Clark] is in the game — on both ends — she’s getting beat up,” Sides said. “She keeps fighting.”
“I just feel like we need to get the same calls that they’re getting on the other end. We’re just not getting those same calls,” she continued. “I’m going to fight like hell for them.”
Clark agreed with Sides, saying she felt like she was getting “hammered” throughout the game.
“I feel like I’m getting hammered. I appreciate Christie getting a tech. I just… I don’t know,” Clark said.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) talks to Seattle Storm guard Victoria Vivians (35) following being run into after making a three-pointer, Thursday, May 30, 2024, during the WNBA game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Joe Timmerman/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK
With Thursday night’s 103-88 loss, Sides and the Fever drop to 1-8 to start the year. Clark finished the game with 20 points, nine assists and three rebounds.
